Hanging Out with Mike & Wendy

We spent a couple days in Highland with Mike & Wendy. The kids had a great time hanging out with their cousins, playing in Mike's awesome backyard & swimming at their gym. Wendy, Callie & I spent time reading and visiting and eating too much.

Remembering

On the way back south from Idaho Falls we drove through Preston, ID to visit mom's grave & to drive by the farm (and Napoleon Dynamite's house). We didn't stay long. Since the farm has been sold we couldn't stop and walk around so we just pulled to the side of the road and looked for a minute. The cemetery only brought tears so after a few minutes we loaded up and headed back to Mike's in Highland.

Sand Sledding & Kite Flying & Idaho Falls

We had hoped to float the river but it was way too cold and windy so Kristen took us to a sand dune to go sledding instead.

Other than a little sand in your eyes it beats snow sledding because it's a much warmer and just as much fun.

It was a great day for kite flying and surprisingly the $1 kites from Walmart held up well.

Bryce had a great time playing football & basketball with Uncle Tim.

Kristen made goo for the kids to play with.

We had a great time visiting Tim, Kristen & Amelia. They have a beautiful home and are great cooks! Thanks for the yummy BBQ steak, homemade pizza and yummy breakfast.

There is no place like home!

Piles of dirty laundry...
Vehicle full of sand, crumbs & clutter...
Exhausted, sunburned children & mom...
No food in the fridge...

The results of a wonderful, fun filled week away.

As much as we enjoyed our vacation I can honestly say there is no place like home! It's good to be home with Brian again, sleeping in my own bed and not living out of a suitcase.

Pictures and posts about our week away will hopefully be up tonight or tomorrow or when I find the camera and a half our of free time.

Vacation

We finally pulled out of town on Saturday around 4:00 in the afternoon. We made it to Shauns at 8:00. We visited for a while then Shaun took the kids to see Diary of a Whimpy Kid. While Callie & I stayed home and watched a chic flick.
Sunday the kids had a great time playing in the morning, we went to Sacrament meeting then headed up to Mike's for a BBQ. Homemade rootbeer & ice cream, corn on the cob, burgers and hot dogs. Yummy!
The kids had a great time playing with their cousins and then sitting around a campfire.

I'm going to drop Brett off at EFY in 2 hours then we'll head up to Tim's for a couple days. It's nice to be on a vacation were we are just taking time to visit with family.

Summer Is Here And We're Off...

Ok not quite yet but as soon as the never ending laundry pile is finished and the house is cleaned and we're all packed we'll be off. Hopefully before noon tomorrow. Brett starts EFY on Monday so the kids and I are heading north. We'll stay with each of my brothers a couple nights while Brett is at EFY and then head home next weekend sometime. Meanwhile Brian will be at home working hard - hopefully showing houses and writing up some contracts and enjoying a LAN party with the house to himself.
Now to find the motivation to get the laundry all done & packed.
Hard to believe summer is here and the kids are already out of school.

California

We're in California for the long weekend. The kids had Friday & Monday off of school so we drove down to visit my dad.

We spent the afternoon at the zoo in extremely warm weather for this time of year. We got some great close up views of gorillas & chimpanzees. Unbelievably it was my dad's first trip to the zoo after living here for 30+ years. Bryce isn't feeling the greatest and was wiped out by the time we got out of the heat and back to the car. Hopefully a good night's sleep will help because tomorrow we're planning on heading to the beach. Hopefully it will be as hot as it was today.

Griffith Park Observatory

Inside the planetarium. Grandpa kept Kylie while the rest of us went to the show.

Not the clearest of skies. The Hollywood sign is in the background but you can barely see it.

Grandpa took us to the Observatory. It was a lot of fun.

Brett would have stayed for hours longer if we would have let him. The next day he wanted to go back again. Next trip we'll have to take him back since it is free.

Dockweiler State Beach

We spent yesterday afternoon out at Dockweiler State Beach.
Kylie heading out to boogie board.

Bradley getting ready to swim.

Bradley telling us all about a wave he rode.

Brett coming in from boogie boarding.

Kim loved being buried by the warm sand.

Go Bryce!

The kids had never gone boogie boarding before. They had fun learning how to catch a wave in.

Bryce boogie boarding.

This is the best life vest ever invented! Seriously if you have little kids get one of these life vests. I bought it at Wal-mart for about $15 and it works better than any life jacket.

It was a little cold and windy. But it sure beat the heat we left behind at grandpa's house. Overall it was a great day at the beach.

Grandpa took off work early to take us all to the beach. Thanks grandpa!

Bradley buried in the sand.

Fun at Grandpas

It's so nice to be at my dad's house. The kids have fun playing with the toys, watching DISH, playing basketball and just hanging out.

The kids made a "big" pile of leaves. This was all they could find to rake up to jump in. Kylie was sad there wasn't a bigger pile.

What better way to end the evening than by enjoying grandpa's smoothies. Yummy! Grandpa recently remodeled his kitchen. It looks so nice!